Human Chaos EP

Publication: Shapeless
Reviewer: Teonzo (Translated by Luca)
Country: Italy

"Nervecell are a young three-piece band from the UAE. I don't know much about their history, as I have not seen their biography. I know this is their first demo. The line-up that has recorded this demo includes: Rami Mustafa (guitars), James Khazaal (bass and vocals) and Barney Ribeiro (guitars). The drums have been recorded by session drummer Alan Madhavan.

This group plays pure death metal, heavy and raw, death metal you would hear in the late 80s, early 90s. The menacing tone of their songs, half way between the scene in Florida (Morbid Angel) and the scene in England (Bolt Thrower and Benediction). No concessions are made for extreme velocity, technicality and melody. Only death metal at its roots. Clearly there is nothing too original, but when we are faced with this music we can only think of how powerful it is. Nervecell, under this aspect, are very convincing. All the riffs seem like they have already been heard, but while you're trying to figure out where you have heard them before, your head is already banging. The growls "pure ogre" style, every now and then a solo to fill spaces, and the rhythm section, even though not doing anything incredible, keeps the power of the songs alive thanks to a wide variety of riffs.

The production is good, we are not faced with overpowering sounds, and the drums are missing some punch (the snare seems too dry), but there's nothing to complain about, the raw and instinctive sounds are what you are looking for in this genre. The CD case is nicely done, the front cover has a great effect (a hand with nails hammered in each finger).

To conclude, Nervecell didn't do anything new, but they put a lot of passion in what they do. And it's this that makes them special. When you're making old school death metal, it's all about the attitude, and this is what makes the music interesting to the listener.

Nervecell have managed to wake in me, my old passion for this genre. Nothing innovative, nothing glamorous, but everything highly passionate. If you miss the good old death metal of the early 90s, grab a copy of the demo, its for you! I would like to express further emphasis that this group comes from the UAE, where finding support for this genre isn't exactly easy, this is just one more reason to support them.

Vote: 8"